TERRITORY taxpayers will fund “meter maids and men” who randomly top up expired parking tickets at Royal Darwin Hospital to ease public anger over the convoluted parking system.

The car parking liaison officers will only hold $50 to selectively top up tickets on their Monday to Friday eight-hour daily shift.

The announcement comes one week after the NT News put questions to Health Minister Robyn Lambley and the Health Department about the contract the hospital entered into with Wilson Parking, the Perth-based business that administers the system.

The NT Government has refused to answer questions about the tender it awarded to Wilson Parking, including how much revenue the system generates for the hospital.

Ms Lambley says funds are invested back into RDH, however her office would not tell the NT News how much has been raised or was expected to be generated, saying it was “commercial in confidence.”

Since paid parking was introduced earlier this year there has been an overwhelming reaction, with visitors and RDH staff complaining that it is difficult to navigate and impossible to predetermine how long they will need to purchase a display ticket for.

This is compounded by long waiting times at the hospital’s emergency department.

Ms Lambley said the news system had been introduced to combat longstanding problems with parking at the hospital, and in a bid to free up carapaces.

“RDH has created more than 150 additional car parks on campus in the past 12 months, with more to come,” Ms Lambley said.

“To make the transition smoother we will pilot parking liaison officers to inform Territorians about the new parking areas when they arrive at the hospital.

“In a sign of goodwill the parking officers will also selectively help top up some parking tickets, in the time specified parking areas.”

Ms Lambley said the liaison officers would run on a three month trial.

“Similar systems have worked in other jurisdictions to promote changed parking arrangements.

“This will be selective and parking liaison officers will only have $50 each to help top up some parking tickets.

“Recruitment for our sun safe meter maids and meter men will commence shortly.”

Ms Lambley said money raised from the system would go towards improving car parks, including additional security and lighting.

“RDH has already committed to the purchase of 15 high powered LED street lights, additional security on duty and two CCTV cameras.”

Comments on this story

Concerned citizen of Darwin Posted at 2:48 PM March 31, 2014

What WAS the entity that installed this system thinking,oh! it was the NT Government? Say no more. Couldn't organize a chook raffle. If we had a hospital that was sufficiency staffed, that could run a bit more efficiently, parking fees might be feasible, however, this isn't the case. One is always stressed as well, can we sue them for adding to this? I shall be parking down on Rocklands Drive and walking up whenever possible.

paul of anula of darwin Posted at 12:53 PM March 31, 2014

being fined by a private company is illegal .do not pay your so called infringements people. they are being issued illegally.

Govt gone insane of Darwin Posted at 9:20 AM March 31, 2014

Come on NT News ... can we have the Robyn Lambley meter maid outfit on the front page!